Shorter duration | Lower cost | Non-confrontational atmosphere | Encourages exchange of ideas
At Gresham Mediation, Lillian Suelzle Watson is a trained mediator/attorney who will work with both of you to help you make decisions, prepare documents and have the final documents signed and filed with the appropriate court. As a mediator/attorney Lillian must remain neutral party and does not represent either of you, but can answer your legal questions. Usually this will take two or three meetings to discuss your issues and desires.
If you would like to discuss your specific situation and needs further, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with Lillian S. Watson today.
At its core, mediation is a process that allows divorcing couples the opportunity to work through disputes with a neutral third party before it becomes necessary to go before a judge. If you elect to meet with Mrs. Watson as a mediator, she must remain neutral and cannot represent either party separately. If mediation will help you and your spouse reach a complete agreement, it may be appropriate to only have an attorney-mediator meet with you both and finalize your documents.
By resolving potential disputes through mediation, individuals typically note several positives about the experience, including:
Additionally, many individuals feel better about the compromises that were reached because they had a stake in the terms. Be sure to work with an experienced Oregon lawyer trained in mediation to discuss your unique situation in greater detail.
If you have concerns regarding family mediation or collaborative divorce, we encourage you to contact Gresham Mediation. Our attorneys can meet outside of our standard 9 to 5 office hours based on the individual needs of our clients.
Yes, there are several options you can follow: You can learn more about various methods to resolve you divorce without court by using some of the terms discussed below… Read more
Mediation or collaborative law are both examples of alternate dispute resolutions. It is important that you choose the correct method to fit your circumstances. These are but options to assist you in coming to your own decisions… Read more
Yes, in her initial consultation she will discuss processes available to you. Your choices include coaching, mediation, mediation or full lawyer representation… Read more
Mediation is a process where both spouses discuss their differences to resolve their divorce with the help of a neutral professional… Read more
When a husband and wife have decided to divorce, they may agree on several aspects of their divorce; but often there are one, two or more areas where they cannot agree. With the use of a mediator, they can discuss their different positions and often reach an agreement, avoiding litigation… Read more
Many family lawyers are trained in mediation which provides the skills needed to be a neutral. Because they are a neutral, they cannot take sides or provide legal advice, but that does not mean they cannot explain legal principles or guidelines… Read more
It can be completed in a few meetings. Expect at the very least three in addition to the initial conference… Read more
Once Mrs. Watson is your mediator, she ethically cannot represent either of you in either the collaborative or traditional method, all mediation discussions are confidential. You are not prevented from switching to a collaborative method or traditional litigation if all efforts to settle fail… Read more
When you initially meet with the mediator/attorney she will want to learn about you both and whether this is a suitable process for your resolution… Read more
Mrs. Watson will review costs in more detail at your initial meeting, but she charges $125 for the initial meeting (about 30-45 minutes). At the initial meeting, she will review your issues, help you determine if mediation is appropriate in your circumstances and estimate how many meetings she anticipates the process to take… Read more
Mrs. Watson would then charge for additional time at $200.00 per hour as needed so there is no reason not to finish… Read more
You can have your individual attorney(s) prepare documents based on your mediated agreement; you can file self-help form; or, you can have Mrs. Watson prepare co-petition documents to be filed with the court… Read more
Mrs. Watson has worked with many of the family attorneys in our metropolitan area. Check with your attorney and see who they recommend as a mediator… Read more
If you have children under 18, or if your children are between 18 and 21, the divorce judgment must address their needs… Read more
The amount of child support is decided on various statutory factors and a judge is reluctant to sign off on any agreements that do not comply with the statutory formula. However, there are various factors that are considered… Read more
Instead of having one neutral professional, you have two trained attorneys who help you settle your divorce amicably… Read more
It is likely it will cost more as you are using two attorneys to make decisions. However, if either of you need your own attorney to provide you individual legal advice, collaborative law may be the option for you… Read more
If you believe that mediation could be for you, please do not hesitate to reach out with your questions, and to schedule your consultation.
Gresham Mediation represents residents throughout East County and the surrounding communities, including Gresham, Portland, Fairview, Troutdale, Wood Village, Sandy, Boring, Oregon City, Damascus, Lake Oswego, Gladstone, Happy Valley, West Linn, East Portland, Estacada, Multnomah County and Clackamas County, Oregon.